Retrieving apparatus



G. M. BUlVlD RETRIEVING APPARATUS June 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1955 ATTORNEYS June 10, 1958 G. M. BUIVID 2,838,335

RETRIEVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 GEORGE M. BUIVID ATTORNEYS INVEN'I'OR I June 10, 1958 G. M. BUIVID 2,838,335

REITRIEVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 3, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GEORGE M. BUIVID A BYDQOWLAIW ATTORNEYS United States Patent-O 2,838,335 7 RETRIEVIN G APPARATUS George M. Buivid, Moorestown, N. J. Application February 3, 1955, Serial No. 485,904 14 Claims. 01. 29467) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States Patented June 10, 1958 detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective review of the rescue device under tension and about to be positioned beneath a per- 1 ness of illustration,

of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The invention relates to a retrieving and rescue apparatus and is designed to be positioned over the object to raise it after release of the holding means.

' The purposeof the invention is to pick up cargo, unfired torpedoes, injured humans, and the like from either the sea or on land, wherever a helicopter is able to hover, but cannot alight. The usual methods of rescue for human beings is to provide a horse collar rescue sling that is lowered from a helicopter by means of a winch cable. The victim grasps the collar and fits it about himself, and then is hauled to safety. Such'type of rescue means, while the best available to date, are inadequate and are useless for persons who are incapacitated by means of injury, exposure, cold or shock. Since such victims are incapable of applying the. horse collar themselves, the rescue then involves lowering another man to assist in securing the lifting means. It is apparent that under certain hazardous conditions, this is impossible, and many lives have been lost. The dificulty of rescue is increased, by the necessity for the helicopter pilot to not only hover over the victim,but to get the unstable sling within reach of the hands of theperson. In addition, other types of equipment had to be used when it became necessary to rescue animals, or to raise inanimate objects, such as cargoes.

The instant invention overcomes these difficulties. The retrieving apparatus comprises a large diameter hoop structure-with a large centeropening adapted to be closed under the object, which is then raised. The device is intended for use both on land or in the sea and is equally useful to rescue human beings oranimals, as well as cargo, mines, torpedoes, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rescue device that is capable of being used either for inanimate objects, or for live objects.

Another object of the invention is to carry out the rescue operation under all conditions -Still another object of the invention is to avoid the necessity for having another person descend into the rescue area to assist in securing the object to be raised.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rest and retaining surface to hold the object being rescued on a support, while it is being raised.

. A feature of theinvention resides in the use of a tensioned'netting the tension being released to snap the netting beneath the object for support thereof.

of the helicopter operator to encircle theobject being raised without requiring pin-point precision.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following Figure 6 is a perspective view of another form of the invention with float means to release the band,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of still another form of the invention illustrating the use of a web,

Figure 8 is a detail of a further modification of the invention, illustrating control by the pilot of the helicopter, and

Fig. 9 is a detail of a modification of the release means.

The invention is intended for rescue of disabled persons or to retrieve inanimate objects such as cargo, torpedoes, mines and the like. The device is adapted for use either on land or at sea. A specific embodiment is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and demonstrates the invention as it would'be used where the injured person or the inanimate object rests on the ground or similar solid support.

The device is designated as a whole by numeral 10 and includes a plurality of eye means 12 on the inside face of a circular frame 14. Eyes 12 are illustrated as three in number, although any desired number of eyes may be used, and secure thereto guy wires 16 joined together at 18 for suspension from a winch cable 21') depending from a helicopter (not shown). Obviously, the inven tion may be operated by any other means capable of hovering over the object below, such as dirigibles, etc.

Frame 14 is in the form of a ring or hoop and will be of any suitable diameter. A plurality of resilient shock cords 22, 24, 26 and 28, each in the form of endless bands, are hooked around hook support or anchoring means 30, 32, 34 and 36, respectively. As is evident from the figures, the support hooks are two in number for each cord member, and are placed at diametrically opposed sides of the frame. sentative, the endless band is secured on opposed anchor members 34. This provides a pair of spaced, parallel elastic bands or cables, stretching across the frames inner diameter cables to provide a platform. The material used .Another feature of the'invention residesin the ability must be of good strength and must have the ability to stretch. A plurality of four sets of elastic cords has been illustrated, but it is apparent that any number could be used.

The purpose of the elastic cords is that they can be 7 separated, form a square in pairs, each pair crossing'the other pair, to form an octagonal but substantially cir-' cular opening inbetween. Frame 14 is thereby readily lowered by cable 20 over the object 38. The weight at Selecting band 26 as repre frame 14 is such that any oscillation due to wind gusts is reduced to a minimum.

Each band is adapted to be releasably secured to a pair of substantially inverted V-shaped hooks 40 (see Figures 4 and having end loops 42 pivotally held on pivot pins 44 extending through frames 14 adjacent each of the elastic band securing means. The apex of hooks 40 rests on the anchor means. A depending fastening pin 46 for each hook, intermediate the length of hook 40, secures the bands releasnbly to the frame. Hooks 40 include extensions 48 having short curved terminal portions 50. Thus, when hooks 40 rest on the anchor members, terminal portions 50 depend below the bottom of frame 14 and trigger off the device on contact with the ground.

The operation of the invention is readily apparent. An injured person 38, and theoretically unable to help himself, is illustrated in Figure 3. The rescue device has been provided with the large central opening by previously securing cord members 22, 24, 26 and 28 at their mid-points on fastening pins 46, which extend below the bottom of frame 14, as seen in Figure 3. Terminal portions 50 extend some distance below pins 46. The aircraft hovers over the object and drop the frame by means of cable (see Figure 2). As the ground is reached, curved sections 59 contact the ground first, causing extensions 48 to move upwardly, carrying fastening pins 46 along. When pins 46 move up beyond the bottom of frame 14, at the time the frame touches the ground, the shock cords or bands are automatically released at the ground level and snap underneath the object to assume the original, less-tensioned position of Figure 2. The object now lies across the elastic web and can be readily raised by winding up the cable 20, or by the ascending movement of the aircraft.

Hooks are also capable of securing floats 52, such as are illustrated in Figure 6. Floats 52 are provided with short lines 54 and these lines may be secured to hook 40 at the eye portion 56 or at section 50. If the rescue device is specifically designed for water rescues, hooks 41 are modified as shown in Figure 6 to be pivotally attached at 58, with a horizontal stem 60 terminating in a looped end 62. Intermediate fastening pins 64, releasably receiving the elastic cords, extend from the hook members. In this construction, the elastic cords may be permanently secured at 58. With the object to be rescued floating in the water, frame 14 is dropped and, due to its weight, sinks beneath the object. Floats 52 remain at the water surface level, and when frame 14 has sunk to a depth sufficient to extend the lines 54 to their maximum length, continued downward movement causes hooks 41 to be moved upwardly since floats 52 remain at the surface of the water until the bands are released from pins 64. The web formed by the endless bands snaps into litter position beneath the object, which now may be raised. This type of pin release is useful in retrieving floating mines or unexploded torpedoes.

Where the objects are small, and there is danger that they may fall through the open spaces between the bands, the structure of Fig. 7 may be utilized. An object of any weight caught within the confines of the stretched elastic band tends to roll to the exact center of the band to establish an equilibrium of forces. Since the bands each cross the center of hoop or frame 14, the greatest density of support occurs at that point. However, small object may fall through before reaching the center. To prevent this, a fine mesh net 66 is provided. Net 66 may be in the form of a circular web with a diametric slit to divide the net in half. The peripheral portion of the web is secured to frame 14 and the slit section of each web is provided with elastic endless bands 22, 24, etc. Thus, in the released position illustrated in Fig. 7, each net half extends from the periphery of the frame to the center of theopen area. The spaces between the elastic, bands are exaggerated for clarity. When the center space is to be opened for rescue purposes, the endless elastic bands are drawn to the proper fastening pins 46, as is done in Fig. 1. With all elastic bands so secured, the large central opening is provided. On being dropped over an object, the fastening pins 46 are moved upwardly to release the endless bands under the object. This causes the web to assume the original form shown in Fig. 7, forming a net beneath the object. Thus, there is no danger of loss due to the small object falling through the spaces between the endless bands, as could occur in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 8 is shown a further modification of the invention where electrical control means is provided to enable the helicopter pilot to manually control the retrieving mechanism. Frame 14 is provided with stems 70 pivoted at 72-to the frame and including releasing pins 76. A solenoid 78 is secured to the frame 14 and has its movable pin 79 attached to stem 70 at 74. This solenoid is electrically connected by suitable leads 80 to a source of current 82 and control switch 84 in the helicopter. When the device is over the object, the pilot closes the circuit to bring stems 70 upwards and thereby release the endless cords from pins 76. The victim is then lifted up to the helicopter.

Other forms for releasably holding the endless bands may be employed. Fig. 9 illustrates such modification and discloses the provision of an F-shaped hook pivotally secured at 92 to frame 14. Prong 94 retains endless band 22. Depending leg 96 is of somewhat greater length than prong 94, and is the terminal portion similar to terminal 50. Leg 96 touches the ground first, as the device is lowered, and is provided with a flat portion 98 to insure good surface contact. As the frame descends, book 90 pivots around 92, raising the hook member and releasing endless band 22 from prong 94 to snap under the object being rescued.

1n ths manner, an eflicient device for rescue of both animate and inanimate objects is provided. It is now no longer necessary for an injured person to fasten the safety device himself, and accurate positioning of the rescue means is no longer required. With the frame of the invention, the central opening is large enough to enclose the person or object being raised and precision accuracy is not necessary.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A litter for retrieving objects comprising a rigid endless frame having a hollow interior, a plurality of spaced securing means attached around said frame, elastic bands extending across the hollow interior of the frame in the form of a litter and secured to said securing means, release means secured to said frame and adapted to releasably retain each adjacent elastic band intermediate its ends, whereby a large opening in the hollow interior is provided and means on said release means adapted to release the elastic band to its original litter position.

2. A litter for retrieving objects comprising a rigid endless frame having a hollow interior, a plurality of spaced securing means attached around said frame, elastic bands extending across the hollow interior of the frame in the form of a litter and secured to said securing means release means pivotally secured to said frame and adapted to releasably retain each adjacent elastic band intermediate its ends, whereby a large opening in the hollow interior is provided and extension means on said release means adapted to release the elastic band to its original litter position.

' 3. The combination. of claim 2, wherein said release means comprises solenoids, and means securing said solenoids to said pivotal means.

4. A litter for retrieving objects comprising a rigid endless frame having a hollow interior, a plurality of spaced securing means attached around said frame, elastic bands extending across the hollow interior of the frame in the form of a litter and secured to said securing means, hook means having fastening pins extending below said endless frame, each of said hook means being pivotally secured to said frame and adapted to releasably retain each adjacent elastic bands intermediate its ends, whereby a large opening in the hollow interior is provided and extension means on said hook means adapted to release the elastic band to its litter position.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein a net is secured to said bands and to said frame to provide a mesh net whereby small objects are retained.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein said hook means each is of inverted V-shaped, and said release means is an extension forming one side of the V-shaped hook means, said extension terminating lower than said fastening pin when the bands are engaged by said pins.

7. The combination of claim 4, wherein said release means comprises floats and means securing said floats to said hook means.

8. The combination of claim 4, wherein said hook means is F-shaped, and said release means is an extension terminating lower than said fastening pins when the bands are engaged by said pins, said extension terminating in a fiat portion to insure good surface contact.

9. A litter for retrieving objects comprising a rigid, endless frame having a hollow interior, a plurality of securing spaced means attached around the perimeter of said frame, a plurality of elastic bands extending diametrically across the hollow interior of the frame in the form of a litter and secured to said securing means and release means pivotally secured to said frame adjacent the securing means, said releasing means extending below said frame each band having a portion substantially adjacent its mid point stretched and secured to said release means whereby a large central opening in the hollow interior is provided.

10. A litter for retrieving objects comprising a rigid, endless frame having a hollow interior, a plurality of spaced securing means attached around the perimeter of said frame, a plurality of elastic bands extending diametrically across the hollow interior of the frame in the form of a litter and secured to said securing means and release means pivotally secured to said frame adjacent 1 the securing means, said releasing means extending below said frame each band having a portion substantialy adjacent its mid point stretched and secured to said release means whereby a large central opening in the hollow interior is provided, wherein said release means comprises hook means having fastening pins thereon releasably retaining the elastic bands.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said hook means each is of inverted V-shape and said release means extension forms one side of the V-shaped hook means, said extension terminating below said fastening pin.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein said hook means each is F-shaped and said release means extension forms one side of the V-shaped hook means, said extension terminating below said fastening pin.

13. The combination of claim 9, wherein float means are secured to said release means.

14. The combination of claim 9, wherein solenoid means are secured to said release means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 737,408 Howes Aug. 25, 1903 771,886 Smith Oct. 11, 1904 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,274 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1902 

